Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Qom Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Qom

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $438 in Qom, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $831 in Qom, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,223 in Qom, rent included.

Medellin costs about 129% more than Qom, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Qom are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Qom 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$2.96 $2.96

99.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$14.54 $14.54

126.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$4.74 $4.74

56.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$0.97 $0.97

70.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.41 $0.41

168.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.29 $0.29

168.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$0.50 $0.50

120.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.55 $0.55

129.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.31 $1.31

5.34%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$1.02 $1.02

113.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$2.97 $2.97

51.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$3.32 $3.32

74.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$7.02 $7.02

27.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$0.74 $0.74

213.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.22 $1.22

-13.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$0.86 $0.86

76.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$0.39 $0.39

248.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.46 $0.46

145.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$0.38 $0.38

207.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.41 $0.41

119.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.25 $0.25

260.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 $0.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$2.18 $2.18

2.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.41 $0.41

107.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$14.61 $14.61

184.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.31 $0.31

358.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.15 $0.15

1200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$0.98 $0.98

705.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$0.68 $0.68

45.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$81.3K $81.3K

-78.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$55.3K $55.3K

-51.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$15.65 $15.65

430.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$1.21 $1.21

701.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$5.90 $5.90

298.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$8.49 $8.49

197.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$9.75 $9.75

95.90%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$0.99 $0.99

298.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 1.0M

$116 $116

172.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$1,964 $1,964

204.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$15.02 $15.02

299.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$12.78 $12.78

148.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$98.0 $98.0

3.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$49.90 $49.90

115.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$239 $239

98.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$161 $161

132.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$587 $587

44.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$571 $571

25.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$904 $904

261.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$609 $609

136.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$215 $215

190.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

20.33

-33.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Qom: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $239 in Qom. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 190% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Qom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $90.0 – making Qom the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Qom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $657 in Qom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qom, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $15.00 in Qom. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $438 in Qom. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Qom, where all-in costs run around $438, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Qom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qom – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Qom. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.